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Cyprus rules! · Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Posts: 668

I found a video of this folk dance on the net and was wandering whether anyone maybe knows what it's called and where it's from? Would you perhaps class it as a 'syrto'?

(Just wandering..;))

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF9o3Wtq1a4&mode=related&search=

Cheers! :)

Dhavlos · Joined: 13 Aug 2005 Posts: 4697 Location: Birmingham

It looks more like an island dance simply because hte dance is very 'light'. Lots of 'skipping', and the dance is 'happy'.

(whereas the mainland has more 'serious/slow' dances-i think- and pontic, well its pontic! lol -i love it tho)

not sure on the type of dance though, im useles on that, if i know it, i know it, if not, then i usually am able to learn how to dance it pretty quickly!

Cyprus rules! · Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Posts: 668

Thanks Dhavlos, yeah I thought it might be an Island dance, I guess I was just wandering whether it would be classed as a Syrto or not, it looks like it could be..:)

You sure do love those Pontic dances don't you? :lol:

Well just for you then, here's a little clip of one I found...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SgfUPZ-nhM

(I have to say that looks pretty hard..to be able to move like that.. :shock: )

I also found a clip of a traditional Cypriot dance, Datsia I believe..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc0uN7Y6XX0

(These guys are pretty good..:))

Dhavlos · Joined: 13 Aug 2005 Posts: 4697 Location: Birmingham

ah CR you made my day!!!

that pontic one was great, ive seen my uncle do it, and it was amazing. he taught us to do one called 'Tik' and a fewothers, and i loved doing them, they were so fun.The pontics are so pationate when they dance. And i love the music, the pain in their voice when they sing is magical...sounds a bit sadistic, but you get what i mean.

Oh, and the cypriot dances...ive always wanted to be able to do the one with the giant seive. that would be so cool!!! Im so jealous of those guys.My uncle never taught us that tho...he was more 'traditional' . Still...i love watching it! thanks

Cyprus rules! · Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Posts: 668

Dhavlos wrote: ah CR you made my day!!!

that pontic one was great, ive seen my uncle do it, and it was amazing. he taught us to do one called 'Tik' and a fewothers, and i loved doing them, they were so fun.The pontics are so pationate when they dance. And i love the music, the pain in their voice when they sing is magical...sounds a bit sadistic, but you get what i mean.

Oh, and the cypriot dances...ive always wanted to be able to do the one with the giant seive. that would be so cool!!! Im so jealous of those guys.My uncle never taught us that tho...he was more 'traditional' . Still...i love watching it! thanks

No problem Dhavlos, I'm happy that I could make your day! :D

No it's not Sadistic at all, I know what you mean, I was mesmerized the first time I ever saw a pontic dance being performed, as you say they do it with such passion and love of who they are and where they come from...It's pretty amazing to watch... :)

Maybe it's best you didn't learn the sieve dance, I did, and it didn't quite work out as was expected..although I was only 7 at the time... :lol:

My old dance teacher got a sieve put it in my hand, stuck 2 glasses of water in it, put me in the middle of the circle and told me to spin really really fast holding the sieve out at arms length, which I did and did very well I think, but at the same time I kinda also managed to spray everyone in the Circle as well... By the time I'd finished spinning there was hardly any water left in the glasses..it was all over the other (older kids may I add..) clothes instead.. :oops: :lol:

Although come to think of it, I can imagine that being quite affective in a water fight if you want to spray everyone around you...that's a thought, I think my yiayia has one in Cyprus, and we always end up having a water fight...Hmmm...well I think I may have acquired a secret weapon... :wink: :lol:

I found this website on the Island Lesvos and they have videos of some of the dances..if you click on 'videos' and then press which dance you want to see it'll download it, although it may take a while...it was just nice seeing them dance the Syrto similar to how we dance it in Cyprus, mostly in pairs rather than in a circle...:)

http://www.iera.gr/mousiki/

city · Joined: 15 Aug 2005 Posts: 3369 Location: Larnaca area

:D :D @CR

I have seen the one with the sieve being performed many times.
I usually had to accompany tourist groups that booked the 'Traditional Cyprus Night' and the dancers there always performed that one and also the one with the water glasses on the head. :-)

Cyprus rules! · Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Posts: 668

city wrote: :D :D @CR

I have seen the one with the sieve being performed many times.
I usually had to accompany tourist groups that booked the 'Traditional Cyprus Night' and the dancers there always performed that one and also the one with the water glasses on the head. :-)

Ahhh..yes the 'glass of water on the head dance' (does anyone know what's it actually called, because I haven't got a clue, as you can see.. :) ) my aunty decided she'd get everyone to dance it at our New Years party, but we only manged one glass and most of us only let go of it and danced for a spilt second, we sure weren't brilliant at it, but it was definitely fun..;)

With the sieve dance, everytime I watch it I can't believe that the dancers are managing to keep the water in the glasses...the wonders of physics I guess..(and individual skill of course...;))